What is GLI’s mission?
Girls Learn International (GLI) educates and energizes U.S. students in the global movement for girls’ access to education. GLI pairs Chapters in U.S. middle schools and high schools with Partner Schools in countries where girls still lag behind boys in access to education and where girls are far less likely than boys to stay in school past the primary grades. The GLI Program supports the empowerment of U.S. students as they discover that through their own creative initiatives, dedication, and passionate leadership, they can create real solutions that address the obstacles facing girls and women here and around the world. Student-to-student, and student-to-parent, GLI is building a movement of informed advocates for universal girls’ education and a new generation of leaders and activists for social change.
What can I do to help?
If you are a student or faculty member, consider starting a Chapter at your high school or middle school. Chapters learn about the issues and raise money for Partner Schools, helping more girls stay in school longer! Parents should consider joining a Regional Advisory Board or donating to help expand the GLI program.
What are my responsibilities as a Faculty Adviser?
All Chapters must also have a Faculty Adviser. The Faculty Adviser position is a great opportunity to work with students in small groups and to encourage learning about global issues. Faculty Adviser responsibilities include:
- To help students establish GLI Chapter as a school club;
- To serve as liaison between the Chapter and the GLI office;
- To attend all Chapter meetings;
- To attend annual GLI Faculty Adviser Training or view training online;
- To oversee Chapter fundraising efforts and manage Chapter finances;
- To send all fundraising monies to the GLI office as instructed by your Regional Coordinator;
- To encourage Chapter members to engage with human rights curriculum and related activities;
- To facilitate constructive dialogue about sensitive human rights issues that may arise during Chapter meetings.
What if I’m a college student?
The program at the college level is called the Choices Campus Leadership Program, run by the Feminist Majority Foundation. CHOICES galvanizes college students, especially young women, to work for women’s equality in the US and around the world. The Choices Campus Leadership Program is the largest pro-choice campus program providing students with organizing skills and tools. Students engage in a wide range of campus and community-based actions and mobilizations that focus on the challenges women and girls face internationally and nationally, encouraging women to run for campus-wide office and become involved in student government, countering the threats to women’s reproductive health and rights, increasing access to reproductive health services, and fostering civic engagement. The largest campus program of its kind, the CHOICES network includes over 604 student groups on a wide range of public and private, two- and four-year university campuses in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
We also have internships for college students, which you can find out about here.
Can boys participate in GLI?
Yes, and we think that they should! The GLI Program focuses on closing the gender gap in education so that all children have the chance to go to school. Girls are disproportionately excluded from education, but it is crucial that girls, boys, women and men all work together in order to come up with creative and realistic solutions to solve the global crisis in girls’ education. Boys have started GLI Chapters at their school, and there is even a GLI Chapter at an all-boys high school in Pennsylvania!
How much of the money raised goes to Partner Schools?
All funds raised by U.S. Chapters are sent to GLI first. GLI keeps 10% to help facilitate the partnerships and sends 90% to the Partner School. Partner Schools are required to spend the funds in ways that empower girls and increase girls’ access to education, and to report to GLI about how the funds are spent.
How are donated funds used by the Partner Schools?
Funds raised by GLI Chapters have gone toward school fees/tuition, school supplies (including books, pencils, recreational supplies), student room and board, uniforms, transportation costs, operating expenses, and staffing needs.